Henna, A Natural Way to Hair Color

What Is Henna?

Henna is one of the most popular beauty herbs in India and tropical countries that is known for its cooling effects. Since ages, it has been used to make hair shiny, healthy and gorgeous. Henna is one kind of herbal leaves, once dried then it can be finely grounded and uses as a powder. The power of this green herb is not only used to decorate hands or cover greys but is also applied to hair to bring back the health of your precious lashes.

Is Henna safe for hair?

Yes, Henna is much safer for the hair unlike the other permanent chemically induced hair colors available in the market. Henna restores the acid-alkaline balance of the scalp without affecting the natural balance of your hair. Henna is a very good conditioner for your hair. It covers each hair shaft and builds a protective layer that safeguards the strands from damage. Regular use of henna makes your hair thick and strong by locking the essential moisture in the hair. Henna is also known to cure dandruff quite effectively.

Is Henna permanent?

Yes, henna does not wash out although it will gradually fade over time. Because of this, and because the dye works like a varnish over your natural hair color rather than chemically changing it, emerging roots are far subtler than after using the chemical dyes. Originally, henna gives a reddish tone to the hair, it can vary, the lighter colored hair will look more reddish than the darker hair. Nowadays, a lot of varieties of different colored henna are available in the market.

How do you use Henna?

Applying henna can get a little messy. Choose an area where you are going to apply henna and lay down some newspaper to catch any stray spills. Cover your shoulder with a towel. It’s said that overnight soaking the henna in warm water can create a very rich color. Then the steps are as follows:

Smooth a protective balm like vaseline around the hairline – to ensure your skin is not accidentally tinted.

Wear gloves, apply the henna evenly to clean, dry hair; dry hair allows the color to saturate each strand. For best results, work from the roots to the tips, starting from the back of the head and moving towards the front.

Then mix approximately 2 cups henna with 4 teaspoons of lemon juice and 2 tablespoons coffee and half cup yogurt, into a paste of toothpaste consistency. Apply over scalp and hair leave on for about one hour. Wash off. If color is desired, avoid yogurt. If hair is dry, add 2 teaspoons herbal or natural hair oil to the paste. Leave for at least one hour; up to two hours is recommended. Wrapping your hair in cling film or a shower cap will result in redder shades, whereas leaving it unwrapped (and therefore cooler) will create a darker color. Rinse off your henna with warm water. The color will continue to develop for up to 24 hours. I usually wait for one day to do shampoo.

How often do I need Henna reapplication?

Like any other hair dye, Henna is also recommended for retouching on grays at least twice a month to maintain the color and vibrancy, though it varies from person to person.